Captured Audio in a Can? Please Help!

[PolarBearWY]

I'm not sure this shouldn't be in the audio forum, but since this is capturing related, I'll ask for help here.

I have the Asus P4P800-Deluxe and am using the built-in sound. Two weeks ago, I installed a DVD writer and cannot hear sound when playing a DVD in it. I checked the setting and it appears that the settings are on for XP to be getting the audio from the DVD writer through the bus. But, I have no sound. I even tried using one of the old audio cables to connect to one of the motherboard's audio in connections (onboard). They are labeled CD-IN and AUX-IN. My CD writer plays CDs just fine, without a cable. MP3s, AVIs from disc, and Windows sounds all work just fine. So, the sound card is working. Since I'm not really using my computer to view video, I wasn't really concerned about this... until...

Yesterday, I installed the ATI AIW 9800 Pro. When I am using the ATI MMC v8.5 TV program, I am able to listen to the "live" feed I'm giving the capture card, and it sounds PERFECT. But, when I listen to the captured MPEG2 file, the audio sounds tinny, like they are all talking in a can. It isn't crisp like it is while I'm doing the capture. Can anyone come up with a solution to this? I authored the MPEG2 with Adobe Encore DVD 1.0 to see if it was just the playback on the computer, but it sounds just the same (tinny) in the stand-alone DVD player. I'm capturing to DVD MPEG2 in 16-bit Stereo at 256kbps. Changing the bitrate to 192 or even 384 produces no better and no worse. My video capture seems perfect, and I am very pleased with this new card. I would simply like to fix this audio, then I will be going capture crazy!

I have an old SB32 that I could probably pull out of my girlfriend's computer to test on a different sound card, but I'd have to put it back. Ultimately, I'd like to try to get my onboard sound to work properly, if possible. I'd rather not disable the onboard sound and put that VERY OLD card in with new drivers. I just noticed I don't have any ISA slots on this motherboard, and that SB card might be an ISA. It's sitting in an old P2B motherboard.

I have followed LordSmurf's guide to a 'T' on capturing AVI or MPEG2 with an AIW card. I have searched this forum, doom9, Asus, AnandTech, and a few other sites and have found nothing about this issue.

Please help. Thanks.

[PolarBearWY]

I will go ahead and add that of what I have captured so far the audio and video are in sync.

[PolarBearWY]

I fixed it. It turned out that I had noise coming in when I had the audio out (from the AIW) plugged into the line-in on the sound card.

I finally figured out how to use that SoundMax that controls my SC inputs and outputs, and am now only connected internally. Sweet!

Flawless video. Flawless audio. Nice! This AIW 9800 Pro is a million times better than my old Asus V7700 Deluxe.

[Leoslocks]

Thanks for posting the resolution. So the mixer settings were the culprit?

I used the mixer settings (EQ) to clean up the source sound on my captures from tapes with good results. Still working on syncronization issues.

PolarBearWY said:then I will be going capture crazy!

I patiently await that day.

[PolarBearWY]

So the mixer settings were the culprit?

Well, I threw two touchdowns with one pass. I got rid of the noise that was heard in the background, even when no sound was being generated. I also figured out how to connect internally, using the CD-IN and AUX-IN connectors on the motherboard.

I really don't know why I was getting the noise when using the LINE-IN but it was removed instantly when I removed the 1/8" jack from the port. If I put it back in, the noise returns instantly. I guess the AUDIO-OUT that goes to LINE-IN isn't a good combination for this capture card and my onboard sound, or I have some electrical interference.

The other problem fixed itself when I realized that SoundMax, the audio tool used to control the onboard sound in most of the latest Asus Pentium motherboards, doesn't AUTO SWITCH the inputs. I'd think that there could be a way for SoundMax to smartly switch between LINE-IN, CD-IN, and AUX-IN, depending on which input I'm pumping audio into, but... it doesn't. So when I want to listen to a DVD playing in the drive, I have to go to SoundMax and mute the input currently on and unmute the AUX-IN. If I want to listen to my capture playback, I need to mute the input that's on and unmute the CD-IN. Silly, but it works and I don't have a chance of getting dual input at the same time.

I hope you fix your sync problems, Leoslocks. So far, I don't see any, but my longest capture has been about 10 minutes. I doubt I'll be doing much capture over that, since my primary reason to capture will be to archive shows from Discovery, History, etc. 99% of what I will be capturing will have commercials every 7-11 minutes. If I'm out of sync after a 10-min capture, it's not noticeable under scrutiny.

I've gotta say... (I'm not tooting my own horn) building a fast computer has probably been a factor in my capture ability. I am literally able to burn a DVD, capture at full D1 to disk at about 50 MB/s, all while surfing the web -- and I still haven't dropped a single frame.